Blessing Okagbare is an award-winning Nigerian track and field athlete who specializes in long jumping and short sprints. She is one of the most popular female athletes in the world and a holder of the Guinness Book of Records for the most appearances in Diamond League meetings by an athlete. She has won numerous awards and recognition in the sporting world, including the highly acclaimed IAAF Continental Cup.
Blessing Okagbare Profile
Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor Biography and Educational Background
Blessing Okagbare was born on the 9th of October, 1988 in Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria. Given her athletic physique, her family members and teachers encouraged her to take up sports. She initially played football as a teenager, but later picked up interest in track and field.Career
Okagbare as a 19-year-old won a bronze medal in the women's long jump event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
She scored a 100 m/long jump double at the NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship for University of Texas at El Paso, completing an undefeated collegiate streak for the UTEP Miners that year.
In 2010, she won the Nigerian 100 m title, running a time of 11.04 seconds, and stated that she was opting out of the long jump in order to save herself for the upcoming African championships.
At the African Championships in 2010, she won gold in the long jump again with a distance of 6.62 m while her compatriot Comfort Onyali took silver.
In 2011, she placed fifth in the 100 m final with a run of 11.12 s at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu. She concluded her 2011 season by winning three medals at the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.
At London 2012, Okagbare participated in her second Olympic Games where she established a new personal best of 10.92 s in the 100 m semi-final but placed eighth in the final with a run of 11.01 s.
In April 2013, in Walnut, California, Okagbare set a personal record in the 200 m with a time of 22.31 s. On 27 July 2013, at the London Anniversary Games, Okagbare set a new African record of 10.86 s in her 100 m race.
In the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Okagbare participated in both the 100m and 200m races. She made it through to the finals of the 100m, winning with a time of 10.85 and breaking the games record of 10.91 seconds set by Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie. The same year, she was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for her achievements.
In 2021, Blessing Okagbare announced her entry into the Guinness Book of Records as one of the hallowed names there. She shared the news on her Facebook page on Wednesday, 10th February morning. “A dream made reality through God’s grace and determination. Look what finally came in the mail…Thanks to the Guinness book of world records. I am indeed honored, proud and grateful.”
The certificate reads: “The most appearances in Diamond League meetings by an athlete is 67 and was achieved by Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) between 3 July 2010 and 31 August 2018”. The certificate was branded ‘OFFICIALLY AMAZING.’
Personal Life
Blessing Okagbare got engaged to Nigerian soccer star Igho Otegheri in 2014 and they married later that year.Social Media Handle
You can connect with Blessing Okagbare on:Instagram @itsblessingokagbare
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